mg.greeneyes-第12节

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　　Another　Chinaman　became　motionless。
　　
　　
　　THOSE　deadly　automatics　brought　another　silence　to　the　den　of　death。　Down　to　a　single　shot　that　remained　in　his　right…hand　gun；　The　Shadow　had　dealt　destruction　to　the　hidden　murderers。　Not　one　Chinaman　remained　capable　of　action…either　in　that　room　or　in　the　hidden　passageways　beyond。
　　A　prone　man　in　a　corner　was　trying　to　rise　and　deliver　a　last　shot；　but　his　effort　failed。　He　sank　back　helpless；　and　his　revolver　dropped　from　his　grip。
　　There　was　an　open　window　across　the　room。　It　opened　on　a　narrow　crevice　between　this　building　and　the　next。　Through　it；　a　yellow　face　was　peering。　This　single　assassin　had　crawled　to　his　perch　from　the　floor　below。
　　The　Shadow　did　not　see　that　face；　for　his　gaze　was　turning　to　the　floor。
　　There；　a　crippled　knife…wielder　was　writhing　upward　at　The　Shadow's　side。　His　blade　was　poised　in　his　left　hand。　Seeking　to　attack　at　close　range；　he　had　approached　The　Shadow　while　the　automatics　were　barking。
　　The　Shadow　saw　his　foe。　His　right　hand　swung　wide　with　a　long；　forceful　blow。　It　struck　the　Chinaman's　raised　wrist；　and　hurled　the　assassin　sidewise。
　　The　knife；　loosened　from　the　grasp　which　held　it；　clicked　harmlessly　away。
　　A　yellow　hand　was　beside　the　face　at　the　window。　A　gleaming　revolver　shone。　Its　muzzle　was　pointed　directly　at　the　form　in　black。　The　Shadow's　cloak　was　spreading；　and　its　crimson　lining　formed　a　background　for　the　man　within　that　cloak。　The　revolver　moved　upward　at　the　window。
　　The　Shadow；　turning　suddenly；　saw　the　threatening　gleam。　His　lowered　automatic　swung　upward。　Its　last　shot　sped　on　its　way；　just　as　the　poised　enemy　prepared　to　loose　his　fire。
　　The　Shadow's　bullet　found　its　mark。　It　whizzed　past　the　extended　arm；　almost　clicking　the　gleaming　gun。　It　struck　the　body　behind　the　revolver。
　　The　leering　yellow　face　dropped　backward。　A　hand　waved　wildly　as　the　helpless　Chinaman　toppled　from　his　perch。　A　moment　of　impressive　silence；　then；　from　the　crevice　below　the　window　came　a　dull　crash；　as　the　victim　reached　the　bottom　of　his　fall。
　　The　Shadow　was　helping　Cleve　to　his　feet。　Dazed　and　bewildered；　the　disguised　government　man　clutched　his　wounded　shoulder　and　staggered　forward　under　his　rescuer's　guidance。
　　They　reached　the　wall　beside　the　doorway。　A　clatter　sounded　in　the　passage。　The　Shadow's　protecting　grip　was　released。　Cleve　managed　to　support　himself　against　the　wall。
　　He　saw　the　man　in　black　leap　to　the　other　side　of　the　doorway。　Three　Chinamen　dashed　in；　two　carrying　revolvers；　one　holding　a　gleaming　blade。
　　They　had　e；　as　reinforcements；　from　the　street。　Attracted　here　by　the　sound　of　gunfire；　they　paused　and　stood　blinking　at　the　signs　of　carnage。
　　The　man　with　the　knife　saw　Cleve。　With　a　cry；　he　leaped　toward　the　crippled　American。　The　men　with　the　revolvers　turned　as　they　heard　his　shout。
　　Like　an　avenging　demon；　The　Shadow　was　upon　them！　With　mighty　force；　he　clutched　the　Chinaman　who　held　the　upraised　knife。　He　swung　the　man's　body　as　though　it　had　been　a　form　of　straw！
　　Upward；　backward；　that　body　went。　It　was　hurled；　dirk　and　all；　upon　the　gun…armed　Chinese　who　were　behind　their　rade！
　　One　man　evaded　the　hurtling　form　and　grappled　with　The　Shadow。　The　other　wriggled　free；　and　fired　wildly　at　the　man　in　black。　But　as　he　pressed　the　trigger；　The　Shadow；　twisting　with　amazing　skill；　precipitated　himself　and　his　opponent　upon　the　man　with　the　gun。
　　Of　the　two　grapplers；　it　was　the　Chinaman…not　The　Shadow…who　received　the　shots。　The　wrestler's　grip　dropped　loose。　He　fell　dead；　a　victim　of　his　rade's　fire。
　　The　Shadow；　never　faltering；　seized　the　Chinaman　who　held　the　revolver。　He　plucked　the　gun　from　the　Mongol's　grasp　as　one　would　wrest　a　toy　from　a　tiny　child。
　　Sweeping　toward　the　door；　The　Shadow　gripped　Cleve　and　swung　him　to　the　passage。　The　black…gloved　hand　delivered　two　quick　shots　back　into　the　room。
　　These　reports　from　the　captured　revolver　sounded　as　a　warning　to　all　who　might　choose　to　follow。　They　were　acpanied　by　a　taunting；　gibing　laugh。　The　challenge　was　not　answered。　Few　could　have　followed；　had　they　wished！
　　Police　whistles　sounded　in　the　distance；　as　Cleve　Branch　faltered　along　the　narrow　street；　supported　by　the　man　who　had　rescued　him。　The　fresh　air　was　reviving。　Cleve's　wound　ached　dully　now。
　　They　were　threading　through　dim；　obscure　streets。　The　man　in　black　had　bee　an　obscure　being。　The　only　sign　of　his　presence　was　the　clutch　of　that　guiding　hand。　Then；　suddenly；　the　hand　was　gone。　Cleve　was　alone。
　　He　stood　bewildered　for　a　moment；　then；　with　a　start；　he　recognized　his　surroundings。　The　alleyway　in　which　he　stood　opened　on　a　lighted　thoroughfare。
　　Cleve　hastened　toward　the　street　ahead。　Arrived　there；　he　turned　sharply　to　his　right；　and　slipped　into　an　open　doorway　into　the　shop　of　Moy　Chen！
　　Cleve　Branch　had　been　rescued　from　the　dive　called　the　Sun　Kew。　His　phantom　rescuer　had　brought　him　to　a　spot　of　safety。　Amidst　a　horde　of　enemies；　he　had　been　aided　by　a　friend。
　　These　thoughts　were　amazing；　but　more　startling　was　the　knowledge　that　the　strange　shadow　that　had　crossed　his　path　was　real　and　not　imaginary。
　　Cleve　Branch　had　seen　The　Shadow…seen；　him　and　met　him　as　a　living　man！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VIII　
　　　DARLEY　OFFERS　ADVICE　
　　CLEVE　BRANCH　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　five　in　the　afternoon。　One　could　not　gauge　time　without　a　watch；　here　in　Moy　Chen's　upper　office；　for　the　little　room　was　windowless。　Cleve　Branch　was　himself　now。　The　disguise　of　Hugo　Barnes　had　been　discarded。
　　Moy　Chen　smiled　placidly　as　he　saw　Cleve　rubbing　his　shoulder。　The　wound　had　been　a　nasty　one；　but　Moy　Chen　had　shown　himself　equal　to　the　task　of　mending　it。
　　Cleve　had　been　living　here　since　that　eventful　night　at　the　Sun　Kew；　and　now　he　was　ready　to　sally　forth　in　his　normal　guise。
　　〃I　shall　be　back；　Moy　Chen；〃　he　said；　as　he　arose　from　his　chair。　〃I　intend　to　visit　Ling　Soo；　when　the　Wu…Fan　holds　its　next　meeting。〃
　　〃Visit　Ling　Soo；〃　said　Moy　Chen　quietly。　〃But　do　not　go　to　that　place　where　you　did　go…to　the　Sun　Kew。〃
　　〃No；　thanks；〃　grinned　Cleve。
　　Moy　Chen　had　explained　that　the　Sun　Kew　was　a　gathering　place　for　members　of　the　Tiger　Tong…a　secret　society　that　had　often　wreaked　havoc　in　Chinatown。
　　For　some　years；　now；　the　Tiger　Tong　had　been　quiet；　but　its　members　did　not　relish　intrusion　by　Americans；　at　any　time。　That；　to　Moy　Chen；　was　the　probable　explanation　of　the　trouble　Cleve　had　encountered。
　　Cleve　had　mentioned　that　he　had　shown　the　badge　of　the　Wu…Fan。　That；　Moy　Chen　presumed；　had　caused　the　Chinese　ruffians　to　class　him　as　an　impostor。
　　Moy　Chen；　Cleve　had　discovered；　played　a　very　passive　part　in　the　affairs　of　Chinatown；　and　seldom　paid　attention　to　the　business　of　his　neighbors。　As　an　undercover　man；　it　was　wise　for　the　Chinese　merchant　to　avoid　all　conflicts。
　　Since　Cleve　had　signified　his　readiness　to　depart；　Moy　Chen　guided　him。
　　They　went　into　the　passage；　and　at　the　end；　Cleve　found　the　open　door　that　took　him　to　the　head　of　the　obscure　stairway。　He　did　not　enter　the　Hoang…Ho　Cafe。
　　Instead；　he　made　his　way　to　the　side　street。
　　While　recovering　from　his　wound　Cleve　had　lost　all　contact　with　outside　affairs。　He　had　resumed　his　normal　personality　for　the　definite　purpose　of　visiting　Joseph　Darley。　He　knew　that　the　chairman　of　the　Civilian　mittee　was　constantly　feeling　the　pulse…beats　of　Chinatown；　and　through　Darley；　Cleve　might　learn　new　facts　now。
　　
　　
　　HE　arrived　at　Darley's　apartment　shortly　before　six　o'clock。　Cleve　found　Darley　at　home。　The　mitteeman　weled　him。
　　〃Well；　well；〃　said　Darley。　〃I've　been　looking　for　you。　Tried　to　municate　with　you　before　I　went　to　Los　Angeles。　Where　have　you　been？〃
　　〃In　and　out　of　Chinatown；〃　replied　Cleve；　with　a　smile。　〃Browsing　about　the　district。〃
　　〃I'm　going　there　tonight；〃　said　Darley。　〃Why　don't　you　e　along？　We'll
　　have　dinner　at　the　St。　Thomas　Hotel；　then　we　can　head　for　Chinatown。　We'll　see　a　show　at　the　Mukden　Theater。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　agreed　Cleve。
　　This　was　convenient。　As　Cleve　Branch；　the　government　agent　could　visit　the　Chinese　district　with　Joseph　Darley。　As　Hugo　Barnes；　he　could　go　alone　and　attend　the　meetings　of　the　Wu…Fan。　So　the　invitation　for　tonight　was　a　good　one　to　accept。
　　〃You　have　been　out　of　town？〃　inquired　Cleve。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Darley。　〃I　just　arrived　home　this　afternoon。　I　called　you　at　your　hotel。　I　wanted　you　to　go　with　me…if　you　had　been　able　to　spare　the　time。　I　had　a　most　enjoyable　trip；　down　to　Los　Angeles　by　air；　back　by　private　yacht。〃
　　〃An　enjoyable　trip？〃
　　〃Wonderful！　Leo　Frane；　the　movie　magnate；　is　the　owner　of　the　yacht。　He　is　East　at　present；　and　he　ordered　it　up　here　to　Frisco　to　meet　him　on　his　return。
　　We　had　delightful　weather　from　the　time　we　left　San　Pedro。〃
　　〃Frane　is　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　　〃Yes。　I　have　cruised　with　him　occasionally。　He　knew　that　I　was　ing　to　Los　Angeles；　so　he　had　the　yacht　held　there　until　I　arrived。　I　may　go　back　to　Los　Angeles　with　him　when　he　es　West…and　if　you　have　business　in　Southern　California；　I　know　that　you　would　be　a　wele　passenger。〃
　　They　left